Plastique Chappo

The French equivalent of prog-rock bands Yes and Genesis, Atoll recorded four albums in the mid- to late '70s with a lineup that stabilized by the time of the group's second album. L'Araignee Mal (1975) included vocalist/percussionist André Balzer, guitarist Christian Beya, bassist Jean-Luc Thillot, keyboard player Michel Taillet, and drummer Alain Gozzo. Gradually commercializing its sound beginning with third album Tertio, Atoll released only one more studio album (plus a compilation) before breaking up. In the late '80s, however, a new, pop-oriented version appeared. Including only Beya from the previous lineup, the band released L'Ocean and the live album Tokyo C'est Fini (both 1989).

Chapman was originally the vocalist for Farinas, who released the single "You'd Better Stop" b/w "I like it like that" in August 1964. (However, lead vocals on that single were performed by Jim King.) He moved on to join The Roaring Sixties and were later renamed Family in 1966. In 1967 the first single was released, "Scene Through The Eye Of A Lens", something of a psychedelic classic. Chapman wrote most of Family's songs with Charlie Whitney and their debut album Music in a Doll's House was released in 1968. Their bluesy, experimental rock music gained them a reputation as a progressive underground band.

The post-Family band formed by Family masterminds Roger Chapman and Charlie Whitney. Where their former band balanced art-rock and blues-rock, the Streetwalkers were a throwback, a blues-rock band that put Chapman's extraordinary voice front and center…

Roger Maxwell Chapman, also known as Chappo, is an English rock vocalist. He is best known as a member of the progressive rock band Family, which he joined along with Charlie Whitney, in 1966 and also the rock, R&B band Streetwalkers formed in 1974. His idiosyncratic brand of showmanship when performing and vocal vibrato led him to become a cult figure on the British rock scene.Chapman is claimed to have said that he was trying to sing like both Little Richard and his idol Ray Charles. Since the early 1980s he has spent much of his time in Germany and has made occasional appearances there and elsewhere. He was awarded an Artist of the Year award in 1980 for his vocals on Mike Oldfield's song "Shadow on the Wall". In 2004 he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award.

This is the Paris Theater concert from 1973 near the end of the bands existence. They are having a very good time in front of a very appreciative audience with Chappo snarling and howling, grunting bass, slicing guitar, wailing organ/synth and rocking drums. The sound - even though mono - is really solid and soundboard clear. It's a wall of sound type mix but everything is quite clear within it. It beats some of the live bonus cuts on some of the individual album releases by miles! If you have all three of the BBC series already - you will find this a very enjoyable and glad addition as the arrangements and sheer drive are unique among the other BBC series. It is a massive rockin testament to the band.

Welle: Erdball - Frontalaufprall
EAC+LOG+CUE | FLAC: 333 MB | Full Artwork | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: Synthetic Symphony # SPV 084-61632 | Country/Year: Germany 1994
Genre: Electronic | Style: Synth-pop, Bitpop, Minimal

Welle: Erdball (often abbreviated as W:E) is a group from Germany often credited with being the pioneers of bitpop. The heavy use of the Commodore 64's SID sound chip makes their sound instantly recognizable. Their sound is reminiscent of electronic music pioneers Kraftwerk…

The French equivalent of prog-rock bands Yes and Genesis, Atoll recorded four albums in the mid- to late '70s with a lineup that stabilized by the time of the group's second album. L'Araignee Mal (1975) included vocalist/percussionist André Balzer, guitarist Christian Beya, bassist Jean-Luc Thillot, keyboard player Michel Taillet, and drummer Alain Gozzo. Gradually commercializing its sound beginning with third album Tertio, Atoll released only one more studio album (plus a compilation) before breaking up. In the late '80s, however, a new, pop-oriented version appeared. Including only Beya from the previous lineup, the band released L'Ocean and the live album Tokyo C'est Fini (both 1989).